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Thousands helped by debt advice services

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/321) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 29 December 2008

Government funded face to face debt advice services have helped over 100,000 people in 2008, and the national telephone debt advice line has seen a significant increase in demand for advice.

Calls to the Government funded debt advice telephone service, the National Debtline, have increased by 40% since 2007, and demand for Business Debtline, the service specifically for business, has doubled comparing autumn 2008 with autumn 2007.

The charity now receives approximately 23,000 calls a month (November 08) compared to 16,000 during 2007.

Meanwhile this year the Government funded face to face debt advice services estimate that they have helped around 100,000 financially excluded over-indebted clients.

Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said:

"It is imperative that when people are struggling with debt, they seek assistance as soon as possible. There are a wide range of organisations who provide expert advice and can really make a difference when it comes to resolving debt problems. We have made a firm commitment to support these services so they can continue to help those most in need."

In the recent Pre Budget Report the Government announced an additional £5.85 million for the National Debtline advisory service to help cope with the additional demand.

Chief Executive of National Debtline, Paul Mullins said:

"We have helped over 90,000 National Debtline clients this year including 8,000 struggling with mortgage arrears. We have seen an increase of 30% in clients who have mortgage or secured loan arrears compared to 2007."

"Thanks to additional funding (£5.85 million funding over two years) from HM Treasury we are currently recruiting for advisers, managers and support staff on both National Debtline and Business Debtline. No previous experience of giving debt advice is necessary as we provide a full training programme. There have been various large scale redundancies announced in the West Midlands and it is important that people know that there is support and advice available, including various job opportunities."

Notes to editors

1. To contact a face-to-face debt adviser, see http://www.adviceguide.org.uk or check your local phone book for your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau. To contact National Debtline, see http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk or call 0808 808 4000

2. The face-to-face debt advice programme employs around 500 fully qualified advisers in England and Wales spread out across many independent advice providers as well as Citizens Advice Bureaux. They include three national projects, one for Wales, and one for each English region.

3. The National Debtline is the national telephone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales. The service is free, confidential and independent. It provides self-help advice to its callers including fact sheets and self help packs and also takes email and written enquiries. They offer expert advice on the full range of debts from rent arrears to congestion charges.

4. The face-to-face service has successfully helped resolve serious debt issues such as personal bankruptcy, and loans; suspended house repossessions, produced financial statements on behalf of clients and assessed available financial benefits on a case by case basis.

5. The projects target specific geographic areas or social groups where financial exclusion is a major problem. Many are specially created partnerships between Citizens Advice Bureaux, members of the Advice UK network and other independent advice providers.

6. Research has shown that although debt advice is readily available in many forms, for example, telephone help lines and the internet, people with severe or complicated debt often need to deal with someone face-to-face, and are often the hardest to reach